Multiple cocking spring operated gun



May 17, 1955 A. N. sMrrH l 2,708,430

MULTIPLE cocxING SPRING OPERATED GUN med April 1e, 1952 2a 50 TEFL el Unite tates atent MULTIPLE COCKING SPRING OPERATED GUN Anthony N. Smith, Erie, Pa., assignor to Louis Marx & Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 16, 1952, Serial No. 282,513

6 Claims. (Cl. 124-14) This invention relates to toys, especially toy guns, and more particularly spring operated guns.

Toy guns are already known in which a main spring is preliminarily tensioned or cocked, and when released by the trigger, lires the gun. In many cases the spring drives a piston to expel air. This air may be used to rupture a piece of paper, or to expel a projectile such as a BB shot or other pellet, or a small or large ball, or it may be used to expel a cork preliminarily inserted in the muzzle of the gun. 1n the particular case here illustrated a cork is used, but it will be understood that the percussively expelled air may be utilized for any other kindred purposes such as those mentioned. The primary object of the present invention is to improve such guns which require cooking or tensioning of a main spring.

In accordance with features and objects of the present invention, the spring may be cumulatively tensioned by repeated operations of a cocking lever, which, of course, reduces the force needed. Moreover, a detent preferably is provided for holding the spring in any desired one of the successive retracted positions, and a trigger preferably is arranged to release the detent and thus tire the gun from any one of the aforesaid retracted positions. Thus a child playing with others at close range, or playing with tiny children, may tension the spring only a little, to expel the projectile with only slight force, but on other occasion he may tension the spring fully in order to expel the projectile with more force or to a greater distance. The degree of tensioning of the spring also may be used to control the amount of noise produced, as when rupturing paper, or expelling a cork.

To accomplish the foregoing general objects, and other more specific objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention resides in the toy gun elements, and their relation one to another, as are hereinafter more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a toy gun embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts in displaced positions;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the toy gun comprises a spring 14 for actuating the gun, a cocking lever 16 for tensioning the spring, and a multiple toothed ratchet member 1S interposed between the cocking lever 16 and the spring 14. Because of the ratchet teeth 20 it will ,L

be seen that the spring 14 may be cumulatively tensioned by repeated operations of the cooking lever 16. The gun further comprises a detent 22 for holding the spring in any desired one of the successive retracted positions. The gun is also provided witht means, here exemplied by a stationary lift pin 24, to normally disen- 2,708,430 Patented May 17, 1955 rifice gage the cocking lever from the teeth 20 as shown in Fig. l, except during the cocking operation as shown in Fig. 2. A trigger 26 is arranged to release the detent 22, thus releasing the main spring. The gun here shown is a pneumatic gun using a piston 12, and release of the detent 22 permits the main spring 14 to drive the piston 12 to forward position.

In the present case the piston 12 slides in a cylinder 2S which acts also as the barrel of the gun. The cocking lever 16 is shaped to simulate the hammer of the gun. The spring 14 is a compresison spring disposed behind the piston, and the connection between the piston and the ratchet member 18 is by means of a piston rod 30 which extends through the compression spring 14, and is sidewardly bent at its rear end as shown at 32 in Figs. 3 and 4, to pass through a hole in the detent member i8. The connection between the hammer 16 and the ratchet member is by means of a link 34. This is transversely bent at its forward end, as shown at 36 in Figs. 3 and 4, and is reversely bent at its rear end, as shown at 38 in Fig. 3. The ratchet member itself is arranged to move with a generally horizontal motion, although it is convenient to pivot the same, the pivot being shown at 40 in Figs. l and 2.

The hammer 16 is pivoted at 42 and is normally pulled forward by means of a small pull spring 44. This acts also as a restoring spring for the trigger 26, that is, it pulls the trigger forward about its pivot 46. lt will be evident that when the hammer is pulled back from the position of Fig. l to the solid line position of Fig. 2 the link 34 is also pulled back and thus serves to draw the ratchet member from the forwardinost positiqn shown in Fig. l to the next rearward position shown in Fig. 2. lt will also be understood that if the hammer is released and again pulled the link will rst drop from the broken line position 34 to the second broken line position 34" as the hammer is moved from the broken line position 16 to the second broken line position 16", thus bringing the link in front of the next tooth of the ratchet, as shown, so that continued rearward movement of the hammer from the position 16 to the solid line postion 16 will pull the ratchet member further toward the right to the next rearward position following the position shown in Fig. 2. Thusfthe gun may ybe progressively and cumulatively cocked, and in the particular case here shown there are three stages or degrees of spring tension, not counting the rest position shown in Fig. 1. Each time the simulated hammer 16 is returned to its forward or rest position shown in Fig. l the link 34 bears against the stationary lift pin 24, thereby lifting the forward end of the link upwardly, as shown by the solid line position 34 in Fig. l, and by the uppermost broken line position 34 in Fig. 2. This insures normal disengagement of the link from the ratchet teeth in any of the three stages, so that the ratchet member is free to ily all the way forward when the trigger is pulled.

The detent 22 Vis a generally upright member, most simply formed out of heavy stiff wire,l like the link 34 and the piston rod 30. The upper end 5 0 (Figs. 3 and 4) extends horizontally and cooperates with a second series of ratchet teeth 52. The tip of the horizontal part S0 is preferably received in a guide slot 54, thus holding the detent against horizontal movement, and so restraining movement of the ratchet member, while at the same time permitting downward movement for disengagement from the ratchet teeth. The lower end of the detent V22 is bent sideward and passes through a part of the trigger, as is best shown at 56 in Figs. 2 and 4. The lower .end of the trigger restoring spring 44 may `be and preferably is held by the said horizontal part ,5.6 ofthe detent.

In the particular case here shown the gun simulates a pistol, and more specifically a revolver. The pistol body is molded in two halves out of a suitable molding plastic, preferably high impact polystyrene. The piston may be molded out of a suitable plastic such as acetate. The other parts are preferably made of metal, the ratchet member preferably being stamped out of heavy gauge sheet metal, and the hammer preferably being die cast. The stopper or projectile shown at 60 in Fig. 1 may be an ordinary cork.

When simulating a revolver as in the present case, the molded sides of the body preferably include convex portions best shown in Fig. 4, and also indicated at 62 in Fig. 3, the said portions being so shaped as to simulate the cylinder of the revolver. The sides 64 of the handle or grip of the revolver may be molded separately or integrally, and may be ornamented as desired. The trigger guard 66 (Fig. l) may be molded integrally with the body. Bearings or sockets for the various pivot pins and for the lift pin 24 are preferably formed in the sides of the body as molded, so that in order to assemble the gun it is merely necesary to insert the parts in one side of the pistol body, before adding and cementing the othel side thereto.

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improved toy gun, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The gun is cocked one, two, or three times, depending on the projectile force or the noise desired. The trigger may be used to tire the gun from any one of the resulting three stages. This changes both the loudness of the noise produced and the force with which the cork is expelled.

The piston 12 shown in Fig. l is preferably made up of two discs 70 and 72, carried on the rod 30, with a piston ring 74 therebetween. The piston ring may be split with a diagonal cut as shown, and dimensioned to provide a tight springy fit against the inside of the barrel or cylinder. All three parts 76, 72, and 74 may be molded out of a suitable molding plastic, for example, acetate. The parts 70 and 72 may be hubbed to provide a space therebetween. The pressure of the spring 14 itself may be used to urge the disc 72 toward the disc 70, with the ring 74 in the space between the discs.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure shown, without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim: v

l. A multiple cooking pneumatic pistol toy, said toy comprising a body simulating the barrel, cylinder, hammer, and grip of a pistol. a piston slidable in said barrel, a p compression spring disposed behind said piston, a ratchet member disposed within said pistol body at said simulated cylinder and mounted for generally horizontal movement, said member having two series of teeth, a piston rod extending rearwardly from said piston to said ratchet member, a link extending forwardly from the simulated hammer to one series of teeth of said ratchet member so that the hammer may be used as a cocking lever to pull the ratchet member rearwardly and with it the piston, a generally upright detent bearing against the other series of teeth of the ratchet to hold it in retracted position whereby said gun may be progressively cocked by repeated operation of the hammer, `a link lift pin so disposed as to automatically disengage the link from the ratchet teeth when the hammer is in its forward position but permitting said link to engage the ratchet teeth when the hammer is operated as a cocking lever, said detent being connected to said trigger at such a point that operation of the trigger moves the detent away from the teeth and releases the ratchet, thereby permitting discharge of the gun from any of the successive cockng positions.

2. A multiple cooking pistol toy, said toy comprising a body simulating the barrel, cylinder, hammer, and grip of a pistol, a main spring, a ratchet member disposed within said pistol body at said simulated cylinder, said member having top and middle arms connected at their rear ends and a lower arm connected to the middle arm at their forward ends, said member being pivoted at its bottom arm and having two series of ratchet teeth along its middle arm, means connecting said main spring to the top arm of said ratchet member, a link extending forwardly from the simulated hammer to one series of teeth of said ratchet member so that the hammer may be used as a cocking lever to pull the ratchet member rearwardly and to tension the main spring, a generally upright detent bearing against the other series of teeth of the ratchet to hold it in retracted position whereby said gun may be progressively cocked by repeated operation of the hammer, a link lift pin so disposed as to automatically disengage the link from the ratchet teeth when the hammer is in its forward position but permitting said link to engage the ratchet teeth when the hammer is pulled rearward as a cooking lever, said detent being connected to said trigger at such a point that operation of the trigger moves the detent away from the teeth and releases the ratchet, thereby permitting discharge of the gun from any of the successive cocking positions.

3. A multiple cocking pneumatic pistol toy, said toy comprising a body simulating the barrel, cylinder, hammer, and grip of a pistol, a piston slidable in said barrel, a compression spring disposed behind said piston, a ratchet member disposed within said pistol body at said simulated cylinder, said member having top and middle arms connected at their rear ends and a lower arm connected to the middle arm at their forward ends, said member being pivoted at its bottom arm and having two series of ratchet teeth along its middle arm, a piston rod extending rearwardly from said piston to the top arm of said ratchet member, a link extending forwardly from the simulated hammer to one series of teeth of said member so that the hammer may be used as a cocking lever to pull the member rearwardly and with it the piston, a generally upright detent bearing against the other series of teeth of the member to hold it in retracted position whereby said gun may be progressively cocked by repeatedoperation of the hammer, a link lift pin so disposed as to automatically disengage the link from the ratchet teeth when the hammer is in its forward position but permitting said link to engage the ratchet teeth when the hammer is pulled rearward as a cooking lever, said detent being connected to said trigger at such a point that operation of the trigger moves the detent away from the teeth and releases the ratchet, thereby permiting discharge of the gun from any of the successive cocking positions.

4. A multiple cooking pneumatic pistol toy, said toy comprising a body simulating the barrel, cylinder, hammer, and grip of a pistol, a piston slidable in said barrel, a compression spring disposed behind said piston, a ratchet member disposed within said pistol body at said simulated cylinder, said member having top and middle arms connected at their rear ends and a lower arm connected to the middle arm at their forward ends to assume a configuration somewhat resembling the numeral 2, said member being pivoted at its bottom arm and having ratchet teeth along the top edge and'along the bottom edge of the middle arm, a piston rod extending rearwardly from said piston to the top arm of said ratchet member, a link extending forwardly from the simulated hammer to the upper series of teeth of said member so that the hammer may be used as a cocking lever to pull the member rearwardly and with it the piston, a generally upright detent bearing against the lower series of teeth of the member to hold it in retracted position whereby said gun may be progressively cocked by repeated operation of the hammer, a link lift pin so disposed as to automatically disengage the link from the ratchet teeth when the hammer is in its forward position but permitting said link to engage the ratchet teeth when the hammer is pulled rearward as a cocking lever, said detent being connected to said trigger at such a point that operation of the trigger moves the detent downward away from the teeth and releases the ratchet, thereby permitting discharge of the gun from any of the successive cocking positions.

5. A multiple cocking pneumatic gun toy, said toy comprising a barrel, a simulated hammer, a trigger, a position slidable in said barrel, a compression spring disposed behind said piston, a toothed ratchet member disposed in the region of said trigger and mounted for generally horizontal movement, a piston rod extending rearwardly from said piston to said ratchet member, a link pivotally connected to and extending forwardly from the simulated hammer to said ratchet member so that the hammer may be used as a cocking lever to pull the ratchet member and with it the piston rearwardly, a detent bearing against said ratchet member to hold it in retracted position, whereby the gun may be progressively cocked by repeated operation of the hammer, a stationary link lift means so disposed in relation to the path of movement of the pivotal connection between the link and hammer as to bear against and automatically disengage the link from the ratchet teeth whenever the hammer is in its forward position, but permitting said link to engage the ratchet teeth when the hammer is pulled back to operate the same as a cocking lever, said detent being operatively connected to said trigger in such manner that operation of the trigger moves the detent away from the teeth and releases the ratchet, thereby permiting discharge of the gun from any of the successive cocking positions.

6. A multiple cocking pneumatic gun toy, said toy comprising a barrel, a simulated hammer, a trigger, a piston slidable in said barrel, a compression spring disposed behind said piston, a ratchet member disposed in the region of said trigger and mounted for generally horizontal movement, said member having two series of teeth, a piston rod extending rearwardly from said piston to said ratchet member, a link pivotally connected to and extending forwardly from the simulated hammer to one series of teeth of said ratchet member so that the hammer may be used as a cocking lever to pull the ratchet member and with it the piston rearwardly, a generally upright detent bearing against the other series of teeth of the ratchet member to hold it in retracted position, whereby the gun may be progressively cocked by repeated operation of the hammer, a stationary link lift means so disposed in relation -to the path of movement of the pivotal connection between the link and hammer as to bear against and automatically disengage the link from the ratchet teeth whenever the hammer is in its forward position, but permitting said link to engage the ratchet teeth when the hammer is pulled back to operate the same as a cocking lever, said detent being operatively connected to said trigger in such manner that operation of the trigger moves the detent away from the teeth and releases the ratchet, thereby permitting discharge of the gun from any of the successive cocking positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 164,521 Churchill lune 15, 1875 247,830 Johnson Oct. 4, 1881 1,852,401 Camps Apr. 5, 1932 1,899,448 Tufts Feb. 28, 1933 2,313,721 Borth Mar. 16, 1943 2,542,777 Loew Feb. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 886,437 France July 5, 1943 

